Rally's MY04 Forrie- Poverty Pack special

Purchased second hand. Rear diff and instrument cluster replaced under warranty. First change was to fit CB UHF GME radio. Car has externally mounted windscreen aerial bracket. Just purchased set of new KYB shock absorbers- the originals have had it- will install when they arrive. Next step is to replace standard steel rims with MY99 WRX rims. Then sump guard and driving lights.
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The never ending development continues. With the engine, gearbox and diffs sorted, for now, I am having another look at suspension. Currently I am running heavy duty raised springs with conventional struts. I am looking into a number of options. One is simply to fit a lift kit in on top of what I already have. Option 2 is to replace the existing springs with heavy duty standard height springs with a lift kit. Option 3 is to install the hotbits coilovers. Option 4 is to have a custom made set up. The latter 2 will be a long travel design. I really like the custom set up, as I can specify spring rates, ride height and have the dampers dyno tuned for the springs. The strut bodies would also be significantly stronger, and everything will be of the highest quality. Sadly, it would also be the most expensive.
 
Rally said:
Sadly, it would also be the most expensive.
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You're concerned about this aspect? C'mon, it's the only choice for your car surely.


(although I think you still need to lift it a bit, just for the clearance if you get wet - although if your going dedman style, no lift would help.)
 
Oh yes, option 4 would include a lift.
 
The Hotbits is a fully custom setup.

-Buy any lengths you like.

-Buy any springs you like (Buy separately from a company like Eibach).

-Buy any lift you like. Idealy you want the lift to come from an extended shock as lift blocks are just wasted suspension length that can't travel.

-You get height adjustment.

-Much stronger then standard.

-DT1 have one dampening adjustment nob. DT2 have separate adjustments for bump and rebound.

-They are rebuildable if you want further tuning.

Price is the only downside. What exactly would you do in option 4?
 
Hotbits would be my choice, giving excellent wheel travel without selling a kidney. They're still not cheap but are very good!
 
Option 4 requires a fair degree of homework, and as with the diff I might go down my own development path. But one thing with option 4 is that high speed rough road body control will be outstanding, while offering long travel as well. Either way, it’s not going to happen tomorrow, next week or next month.
 
If I were to do it all over again I'd most likely go the hotbits route.


(You could then fit bigger, fatter ATs :lol: )
 
See, Kevin and I have been on a few trips together. He was with me on my first off road trip in my current Forester, where I got no punctures and didn’t get bogged. He was with me in the Pilliga, when I ran AT tyres for the first time, and got a puncture for my troubles with a stick through the sidewall. He was with me on another trip as we drove out of Tilpa on the same tyres, and got another sidewall puncture on the road to Burke. He was with me again on the Bendethra trip, when I went back to road tyres. There he saw me do the water crossings and the muddy bank getting out first go while others on AT tyres struggled and took 3 or more attempts, despite not been lumbered with a trailer like me. So yes, I appreciate his cheekiness!
 
Red XS said:
you want the lift to come from an extended shock as lift blocks are just wasted suspension length that can't travel.
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This I never even considered when I put in my lift, but if I could afford to do it I would be kicking myself now that I didn't go down this route instead (which I can't, thus saving my backside some pain)


Mix in a bit of a body lift and you could get really funky with the suspension I reckon.
 
NachaLuva said:
Hotbits would be my choice, giving excellent wheel travel without selling a kidney. They're still not cheap but are very good!
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you think kidney cost more then those hotbits ? they cost more then car itself :poke:
i just looked at some page and dt1 with +100m lift would cost like $3.3k and its not for 4 of them is it ? :)
 
scalman said:
dt1 with +100m lift would cost like $3.3k and its not for 4 of them is it ? :)
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I thought it was priced for a set (i.e all 4)?

I mean, you wouldn't usually buy just one would you?
 
Could be. But if you break just one so you need change just one . they must be sold for peace as well i would think. You lucky rich bastards haha . i could buy 3rd gen outback 3.0 with 245hp engine and all whistles for that price
 
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I don't know how much the HotBits now cost but they are probably around 1'500 USD for a set of 4 (DT1 without springs) and approximately 400 USD for 4 Eibach springs. Of course, you will need to modify the rear top hats and maybe find some SVX axles if you want maximum travel/droop but all together, it won't be much more than 2'200 USD
 
scalman said:
you think kidney cost more then those hotbits ? they cost more then car itself :poke:
i just looked at some page and dt1 with +100m lift would cost like $3.3k and its not for 4 of them is it ? :)
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What currency is that in?!
If USD I paid less then that for 4 DT2's with springs. Australia distributor Newcastle Comfort Suspension is meant to start selling DT1's for what I would call a bargain considering what you get.



Strut top block on an early gen Forester/Outback is still the cheapest way of getting a high clearance offroader.
 
Red XS said:
Strut top block on an early gen Forester/Outback is still the cheapest way of getting a high clearance offroader.
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Without a doubt. I don't think price is that relevent in this case though. :)
 
All donations gratefully accepted
 
I bet you'd get a few dollars if you sold that rear locker of yours... :lildevil:
 
Rally, what do you mean by custom made suspensions ? Do you want to make the design and engineering of the coilovers/suspension yourself ? Jeremiah and Pontoontodd went that path, it seems a lot of work, doable though...good luck !
 
No, I wouldn't be doing this myself. Rather, I would engage the services of a suspension specialist.
 
Car suspension specialists.....hmmm ! I did a lot of research in the past and I finally found out that the motorbike (motocross) suspension specialists are the only ones to know what they are talking about. Well, at least around where I live and a bit further.
 
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